Harvey Weinstein, a formed Hollywood producer, who was convicted of multiple sexual and rape charges, is gaining media attention again, as he is set to appear before a Los Angeles court over new rape charges.
The convicted sexual offender has been remanded in prison in February 2020, after he was found guilty of sexual assault crimes. However, other accusations from different parts of America were revealed, and the court decided to let the offender be tried in the different states one after the other.
According to reports, Weinstein is appearing in court soon because he was accused of sexual crimes against up to five women in L.A. The court granted a fair hearing, and he was extradited from the city.
Harvey Weinstein Pleads Not Guilty
Following the newly added charges that the sex offender has been asked to contest in California, he pleaded ‘no guilty’ to the charges. In a legal plea document filed to the court, Weinstein maintained that he had never engaged in a non-consensual intimacy with anyone in Los Angeles.
Furthermore, he was given a hearing date that’s slated for July 29, 2021. However, the court determined that Weinstein will remain in prison before and during the hearing process.
According to online reports, if the court finds the former producer guilty of this new crimes, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.
#MeToo Movement
In 2006, the #MeToo movement was kicked off by a by a sexual assault survivor and activist, Tarana Burke. The New York born shared her cruel and devastating experience, and geared women around and far away from her to stand up for themselves and name their offenders.
Bill O’Reilly, the former Fox News host who left the network after numerous #MeToo scandals & sexual harassment settlements, stopped his accuser Andrea Mackris from going on @TheView on Wednesday with temporary restraining order.#BillOReilly #TheViewhttps://t.co/GBnWGtuOh7
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) July 22, 2021
Burke championed a lot of online activity, and tried to help women who had walked in her shoes, gain the freedom that the deserve at all cost. Although she was the pioneer of the movement, it caught the attention of the world in 2017.
Executives at Activision Blizzard sexually harassed women, a California state agency said in a lawsuit, and male employees openly joked about rape and drank alcohol while engaging in “inappropriate behavior” toward women at their cubicles. https://t.co/WgXWYQNaMB
— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 22, 2021
As more women began to speak up against those who has sexually assault them, many high ranking people in America and outside were implicated. One of whom was Weinstein. At that time, over a dozen women accused him of sexual assault and rape.
Reactions To #MeToo
When the #MeToo movement went viral in 2017, millions of users on social media shared their reactions about the people who had been implicated, and this ultimately caused a widespread ruckus on the platforms.
While some were in support of the movement and took turns to bash the named offenders, some commenters still found it difficult to believe that certain people could be capable of the act.
Accountability and full justice for his victims. No one us above the law. #Weinstein
— Dipika, MBA. (@_DipikaR) July 21, 2021
When it came down to Weinstein, things quickly took a wrong turn, as over 80 women accused him of different degrees of sexual crimes against them. Users, likewise celebrities took to social media to bash the former producer, and encourage more women and men in Hollywood to speak out and fight for justice.
Reactions To Harvey Weinstein’s Plea
When the news of Weinstein’s not guilty plea was revealed, Twitter users weighed in on the news, referencing his recent viral photo. In the photo mostly used for publications, the 69-year-old was pushed around in a wheel chair, and he had on a brown prison outfit, and a facemask.
Saw him trending, thought he died which was unfortunately not the case.
— Libby (@Libbythelibera3) July 20, 2021
This comes after reports stated in November 2017, that the convicted sex offender was in a terrible state due to an undisclosed illness. Nevertheless, a spokesperson announced that Weinstein had tested positive for COVID-19, and getting worse.
After a while, an announcement went out that he would be closely watched within the prison walls till his health is at full capacity. When media outlets disclosed these announcements, online users again slammed Weinstein for ‘faking’ in order to leave prison early.
